Verbena plant named ‘Balwildared’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Balwildared’ characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, good basal branching character, and vigorous, spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balwildared’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant botanically known as Verbena×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balwildared’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during March 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of new freely flowering Verbena cultivars with large full inflorescences, attractive leaf and flower coloration and a trailing, spreading growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Verbena×hybrida breeding selection designated BFP-2527, not patented, characterized by its purple rose-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was ‘USBENAL25’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,683, characterized by its large dark violet-colored flowers, semi-upright and outwardly spreading plant habit, and vigorous growth habit. The new Verbena was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balwildared’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Good basal branching character; and     -   4. Vigorous, spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balazreve’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,667. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balazreve’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have narrower inflorescences than         plants of ‘Balazreve’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a different flower color from         plants of ‘Balazreve’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balwildared’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 13 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balwildared’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single inflorescence of ‘Balwildared’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Balwildared’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Apr. 25, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago. Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 13 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 80° F. (21° C. to 26° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 65° F. (17° C. to 18° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena×hybrida cultivar Balwildared. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Verbena×hybrida breeding             selection designated BFP-2527, not patented.         -   Male parent.—‘USBENAL25’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,683. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 16.8 cm. Width: Approximately 49.6 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 5             main branches per plant with lateral branches potentially             forming at every node.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Length: Approximately 20.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.4 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with stiff hairs. Color:             144A. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately             3.4 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 15.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Aspect: At acute angle to stem becoming downward turning             with maturity. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Lobed. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Densely             pubescent with soft hairs. Texture of lower surface:             Moderately pubescent and densely pubescent along veins.             Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Slightly             darker than 137A with venation of 144D. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: 137C with venation of             144D. Petiole length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Petiole             diameter: Approximately 1.9 mm. Petiole texture: Densely             pubescent with soft hairs. Petiole color: 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balwildared’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10.8 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type.—Corymb. Quantity per plant: Approximately 7 at 13             weeks. Length/Height: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width:             Approximately 5.2 cm. Quantity of fully opened flowers per             inflorescence at any one time: Approximately 19.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 3.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with soft hairs. Color: 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, salverform, sessile. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open floret.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Spherical. Length:             Approximately 3.3 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.3 mm. Color:             53A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 1.8 cm.             Depth: Approximately 2.8 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a tube.             Appearance: Velvety. Aspect: Flat. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent,             becoming densely pubescent at base with some glandular             pubescence. Gland color: N79D. Length of upper petal from             tube: Approximately 7.2 mm. Width of upper petal:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lateral petal from tube:             Approximately 8.5 mm. Width of lateral petal: Approximately             8.3 mm. Length of lower petal from tube: Approximately             7.7 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 6.7 mm. Color of             upper surface when fully open: Closest to but brighter than             45B at apex and center with 46A at base. Color of lower             surface when fully open: Closest to 51B with 155C at base.             Whiskers of both N78B and N155C surround the opening of the             corolla tube.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at             corolla: Approximately 2.1 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.2 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately             pubescent at proximal end, becoming densely pubescent at             distal end. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous and densely             pubescent at distal end with some stipulate-glandular             pubescence. Gland color: N79D. Color of inner and outer             surfaces of tube: 145D at proximal end, gradually             transitioning to N79D at distal end.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular, with 5 acute tips. Length/Depth:             Approximately 9.9 mm. Width: Approximately 2.6 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused. Shape: Linear. Apex:             Acute. Sepal length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Sepal width:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface: Densely             glandular-pubescent. Gland color: 79A. Color of upper or             inner surface: 144A at apex, transitioning to 144D at base.             Color of lower or outer surface: 144A at apex, transitioning             to 144D at base. Stipule shape: Lanceolate. Stipule apex:             Acuminate. Stipule length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Stipule             width at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper or             inner surface of stipule: Glabrous. Texture of lower or             outer surface of stipule: Densely glandular-pubescent. Gland             color: 79A. Stipule color: 144A at apex, transitioning to             144D at base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4. Stamen             length: Approximately 1.8 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid, bilobed.             Anther length: Approximately 0.8 mm. Anther color: N144C.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color 1B. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: Approximately             1.9 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately             2.5 mm. Stigma color: 144A. Style length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary diameter: Approximately             1.5 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 144B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Verbena has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balwildared’, substantially as herein shown and described. 